Electrically actuated chime signal system



Nov. 8, 1949 F. v. SLAKER 2,487,767

ELECTRICALLY ACTUTED CHINE SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed July 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Shea?l l Nov. 8, 1949 F. v. SLAKER ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED CHIME SIGNAL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1944 IN v E N TOR F/QANK l/ 54mm@ Patented Nov. 8, 1949 4ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED CHIME SIGNAL SYSTEM 'Frank V. Slaker, Norwalk, Conn., assignor'to Edwards and Company, Inc., Norwalk, Conn., a

corporation of New York Application July 25, 1944, Serial N0. 546,535

14 Claims.

This invention relates to musical chimes for 'selective signaling to distinguish the sources from which the signals are initiated, such as a front door and a back door to a'household.

One'of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and practical multiple-tone musical signal apparatus that will dependably overcome certain shortcomings and disadvantages of known signaling devices and which will be capable of Yachieving a continuously repeated musical chime tone. Another object is to carry out the just-stated object in a manner to achieve also multi-tone effects and thus achieve a wider range of distinguishing signals. Another object is to carry out such objects as above just-mentioned, by way of apparatus that can be constructed to be compact, fool-proof, durable in construction, and long lasting in actuation. l

Another object is t provide a striking mechanism for setting a musical sounding element in vibration, that will be capable of actuation in repeated cycle or sequences without detrimentally affecting the tonal quality of the sounding element or sounding elements and that may be electrically actuated and so controlled that the striking impacts maybe repeatedfor substantial intervals'of time without damping the sounding element. Another obj ect is to provide an electromagnetically actuated musical chime signal apparatus that will be capable of operation and repeated cyclesbut at so low a frequency of impacts of the sounding element that musical chime quality is not detrimentally affected. Another object is to provide a musical signaling apparatus of the above-mentioned character that will have a wide flexibility of adaptation for the giving of distinguishing signals and in which, if desired, different musical tones may be achieved and utilized to widen the range of available distinguishing signals. vAnother object is to `provide simple and reliably acting mechanism for insuring electromagnetically an exceeding low rate of repetition of striker movements. Another object is to provide an electromagnetic mechanism and control therefor, for striking a sounding element, in which the circuit making and breaking means will dependably function with a quick break of the circuit even'thoughthe frequency of cyclic make and break is low.

VAnother object is in "general 'Ito improve upon `,to the base plate IIJ.

musical signaling devices and other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out herinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplied in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown byway of illustration one of the various possible modifications of the invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signaling apparatus, with the cover removed, and showing also certain possible circuit arrangements;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional viewv as seen along the line 2-'2 of Figure l;

vFigure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View on an enlarged scale as seen along the line 3 3 of Figure 1, and A.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical` sectional View on an enlarged scale as seen along the line 4 4 of Figure 3 or the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, I may iirst provide a suitable base or frame Ill preferably in the form of a sheet metal stamping having upstanding therefrom, along its two longitudinal side edges, two pairs of ears or lugs II and I2 which serve as supports for two chime bars or plates I3 and I4 respectively whose planes are parallel to each other and extend at right angles The chime bars or sounding elements I3 and I--4 may be supported from the ears in any suitable way, preferably at nodal points in the chime bars, so as not to dampen the vibrations and forthis purpose pins I5 secured to or integrally `formed with the frame ears may be used and passed through suitable holes in the chime bars, suitable cushioning material such as rubber, felt or the like, indicated at I6, being employed about the pins and to either side of the chime bars to avoid direct contact of the latter with the supporting pins and thus not interfere with the musical notes which the chime bars produce. Illustratively and preferably the l. chime bars are constructed or dimensioned to produce distinguishing notes or tones such as for example C and E.

Preferably I provide a resonator for each sounding element and these resonators may be in the form of closed box-like structures I1 and I8 which are conveniently secured to the back plate IIJ in any suitable way and accommodated in the spaces between the lower and upper ends respectively of the sounding elements I3 and I4, as is better shown in Figures 1 and 2. The end wall I8a of resonator I8 adjacent the upper end of .the chime bar I4 is provided with a relatively large opening I8b to achieve the resonating effect while the end wall I1a of the resonator I1 for the sounding element I3 is provided with a similar relatively large hole I1b juxtaposed to the lower end of the sounding element I3.

The back plate I may serve ultimately as a means for mounting the apparatus on to a Wall and for that purpose may be provided with a lug II)a suitably apertured to take a nail or a screw, and thus the apparatus is positioned for operation with the chime bars I3 and I4 extending vertically. In the space between the resonators I1 and i8 is mounted the striker mechanism and its control devices and this mechanism comprises a solenoid generally indicated by the reference character 28 (Figure 1) mounted with its axis extending horizontally and intersecting the chime plates I3 and I4 substantially midway between their front andrear vertical edges.

The solenoid 20 may comprise a U-shaped sheet metal frame 2| between the end arms 2IEL and 2lb of which is accommodated the solenoid winding 2l)a which extends about a hollow or tubular member 22 of non-magnetic material such as brass and which extends through suitable holes in the :frame end plates 2Ia and 2Ib to which it is secured in any suitable Way as by a press lit in the holes. The tubular member 22 conveniently Vprojects somewhat beyond the frame end plates `and serves to slidably support a core 20b of magnetic material such as iron. By means of the portion 2IC of the U-shaped solenoid frame 2l, the solenoid structure is secured, as byV screws, to the back plate I0 but gives its axis and hence the axis of the core 2l)b the relationship above described relative to the chime bars I3 and I4.

The left handY end of the core 2Gb has fitted to it a striker element 23 made of any suitable material such as a suitably hard wond and at its right hand end has secured and iitted to it a striker element 24 which may also be of wood but which is of substantial length for purposes later described. The spacing between the ends of the strikers 23 and 24 is less than the distance between the two chime elements I3 and I4 by an amount equal to the optimum or most effective length of stroke of the core 20h, having in mind the electromagnetic design and characteristics of the solenoid and core construction.

In Figure 1 the core 2l]b is shown in its normal at-rest position, that being a position toward the right in which its striker 24 just clears, or avoids damping contact with, the sounding element I4, and the core structure is biased toward the right and held in the just-described position by a coiled spring 25 one end of which is seated and held in an annular recess 2!)c in the right hand end of the core Zlib and the other end of which abuts against thesolenoid frame plate 2|b and is held centered by the projecting portion of the tubular member 22.

Coacting with the spring 25 in holding the core structure in the above-described at-rest position is a vertically extending pivotally mounted leaf spring 21 which is preferably of substantial length and which, adjacent its midpoint, carries a contact point or contact member 28 which is adapted to coact with a contact point 28 (see also Figures 3 and 4) carried by a U-shaped spring arm 30 that is insulatingly supported from and by an auxiliary frame generally indicated by the reference character 3I.

This frame 3I has a base portion 32 by which it may be attached to the frame plate I0 as by screws 33 and extending at right angles to the base portion 32, the frame 3| has a vertically extending plate portion 34 to the upper and right hand portion of which one arm of the U-shaped spring 30 is secured by Screws 35, suitable insulating bushings and insulating plates 36 being employed to insulate the spring contact arm 30 from the auxiliary frame 3 I.

At its lower portion, the frame plate 34 is cut out to provide an opening or space 31 and to provide two spaced parallel ears 38, 38 which support a pivot pin 4|.'I that passes through a tubelike bearing 4I secured'to the leaf spring 21 in the angle formed by bending the spring-member 21 at substantially right angles to itself, thus to provide a lever arm 42 better shown in Figure 4, which extends through the opening or cut-out 31 and which in effect converts the spring member 21 into a bell-crank lever 21-42.

On the right hand face of the frame plate 34, as viewed in Figures 1 and 4, is secured as by screws 44 a double-acting indexing element cornprising a relatively short and stiff leaf spring 45, the lower end of which overlies the opening or cut-out 31 and is shaped, as by stamping, to give it a horizontally extending cam portion 46 for coaction with the wide end edge of the bell-crank lever arm 42. The Cam 46 in effect has tWo cam surfaces 468L and 46h which preferably merge one into the other in an appropriate radius of curvature or convexity, thus to achieve smoother coaction with the lever arm 42, but the relationship of the two cam surfaces 46L and 46b may be varied according to desired variances in the ultimate action of the mechanism. The preferred relationship, however, is such that, under the pressure (toward the left in Figures 1 and 4) exerted by the spring 45, the bell-crank lever must assume a position such that its end engages one cam surface or the other, thus to avoid a dead center action were the lever arm 42 to remain at rest on the apex of the cam 46.

The upper end of the spring arm 21 is bifurcated or slotted as at 21EL (Figure 2) so as to receive between the bifurcations, and with plenty of clearance, the portion 24a (see Figures 1 and 4) of the striker 24, and for these purposes the portion 24a can of course be considered to be part of the reciprocable core 2l)b of the solenoid. That portion is of substantial length and at its left hand end and abutting against the end of the core 20b is a washer 41 of cushioning material such as felt while at its right hand end is a similar washer 46, the spacing between the two washers being adjustable or variable as by providing a nut 50 threaded on the stem-like striker rod 24 and locked in adjusted position if desired as by a lock nut 5 I.

The spring 25 in biasing the core 24b to the right in Figure 1 thus presses the slidable core structure 28h- 24 against the upper end of the spring arm 21 of the bell-crank lever 21-42 and thus also presses the contact point 28 on the assure? spring 21 in good electrical engagementwith the relatively xed contact pointV 29 onvthe bendable spring-like U-shaped support 30, thus insuring good closure of the circuit in which the winding B and the just-mentioned two contacts may be included as later described.

.In such position the lever 21, its relatively short lever arm 42 is in a position below the high point of the cam 46 (see Figure 4) so that the cam surface 4Gb acts to swing the bell-crank lever in clockwise direction and thus increase the pressure of engagement between the two contacts, and itv also resists movement of the bell-crank lever in counterclockwise direction.

Accordingly, if the circuit is now closed through the engaged contacts 28-29, as by closing the push button switch 53 in Figure 1, the winding 29a of the solenoid becomes energized, drawing the core 2IIb toward the left in Figures 1 and 4, and thus removing the effect of the spring in acting through the core and the lever 21 to press the contact 28 against the contact 29, but good pressure of contact is nevertheless maintained by the action of the cam 46 as above described.

The resultant continued energization of the winding 2lia thus insures that the core 2Ilb is moved to the left with sufficient velocity to cause its striker 23 to strikethe sounding-element I3, but just about before the element I3 is struck, the upper end of lever arm 21 is picked up by the abutment or stop 59, cushioned by the washer 48, whence movement toward the left of the upper end of the lever arm 21 commences and this may be, in part at least, a yielding or flexing of the upper portion of this long springy arm 21, and is finally consummated by actual swinging of the bell-crank lever 21-42 in counterclockwise direction with the result that the cam surface 468L of the still spring member is brought into coaction with the short lever arm 42, causing the bell-crank lever quickly to snap in counterclockwise direction and thus effecting a quick break at the points 28 and 29.

Due to the extreme shortness of the lever arm 42 relative to the distance between the pivot pin 40 and the contact point 28, the relatively small linear movement of the end of lever arm 42 over the hump of the cam 4B and down the cam surface 46', the linear movement of the contact point 28 away from the fixed contact 29 is correspondingly multiplied as to length and also as to linear velocity, even though the angular velocity may be the same, and thus sparking effects on the break are greatly lessened and a continuous spark cannot take place.

During the movement toward the left (Figure 1) to strike the sounding element I3, spring 25 has undergone compression and aided by the rebound of the core structure from the sounding element I3, the Winding 2lia being by now deenergized, the energy stored in the spring 25 starts moving the core structure to the right, increasing the velocity of movement of the core structure in that direction. After a short portion of rightward movement, washer 41, abutting against the right hand end of core 20b engages the upper bifurcated end of the lever 21 which is held by the recess-like depression at the foot of cam portion 465L (Figure 4) in a position tilted to the left by about 20 from the vertical, and swings the lever 21-42 in clockwise direction to ride the lever arm 42 up on the cam portion 46a, and by the high ratio of lengths of lever arms V(arm 21 and arm 42) easily overcomes the resistance 0f spring 45, and just about when the end of arm 42 commences to ride down the cam portion 4Gb, aided by the action of spring 45 in urging bell-crank lever 21-42 in clockwise direction, contact 28 on arm 21 engages contact 29 on the bendable spring-like support 30, again to close the circuit of the winding 20a.

The core structure, however, continues to move toward the right to strike the sounding element I4 at the end of its stroke, striking it at what is just about the maximum velocity of movement toward the right of the core structure, cushioning washer 41 and the long spring arm 21 yielding to permit the striker 24 to give the chime bar I4 a good blow.

The pressure of engagement between contacts 28 and 29 is thus a substantial one and good circuit closure results, starting movement of the core structure to the left being aided by the rebound from the cushioned sounding element I4,.

by the elastic or resilient action of the cushioning washer 41, and by the spring-back toward the left of the upper portion of the long lever arm 21; good contact at points 28-29 is maintained and insured by the camming action of cam portion 4Gb upon the bell-crank lever 21--42 so that any spring-back action of the long spring lever 21 does not disturb good mechanical and electrical engagement between the contacts 28-29. Thereby also the circuit of winding 202L is maintained closed during so much of the movement of the core structure toward the left as is the spacing between the right hand end of core 2l)b and the stop or abutment 50, diminished somewhat by the thicknesses of the cushioning washers 41 and 48. This relatively long continued energization of winding 2l)a gives the solenoid action plenty of time to build up adequate velocity of movement of the core structure to the left and also to store energy in the spring 25. The washer 48, after that relatively long time interval, picks up the bifurcated end of lever 21 and at high velocity swings it counterclockwise to give a quick break at the contacts 28-29, aided by the snap action of the cam 46 whose cam portion 46b holds the bell-crank lever 21-42 swings counterclockwise about 20 or so, and prevents accidental closure of the circuit as might be caused by jarring or vibration of the parts.

On each stroke of the core structure therefore there is interposed a substantial time interval of actuation of the bell-crank lever with the result that these two time delays are additive with respect to the striking of either one of the two sounding lements, thus giving a very low frequency at which either is struck, and that frequency may be on the order of one impact per second, or per one and one-half seconds or still slower, the 4other sounding element being struck, in point of time, half way between two successive impacts against the rst. Each sounding element therefore has ample time to produce an adequately loud sound and has ample time to bring out clearly its musical quality.

The nice and pleasing musical quality of the two notes sounded by the chime bars I3 and I4 may thus be achieved by sounding them in repeated sequences for which purpose the circuit of Winding 2Ila includes the contact points 28--29. An illustrative circuit is shown in Figure 1 and it comprises a suitable source 54 of electrical energy such as a transformer, conductor 55 to terminal connector 56 of the winding 20a, thence through the winding 20, terminal connector 51, conductor 58 which can lead to the auxiliary frame 3I as by securing screw 33 and thus bring the lever v2'I and contact 28 in circuit, then contact 29, insulated mounting member 30, then conductor 59 (part 30 being provided as shown in Figure 2 with a tab 30*ab to which the conductor may be soldered), thence to one contact of the switch 53 such as a push button switch, and then by way of conductor 6D back to the other side of the source 54. As long as switch 53 is held closed therefore the cyclic repetition of the two note sequences of the sounding elements I3 and I4 are produced.

Such a circuit arrangement could function vwhere the push button switch 53 is located for lexample at the front door of a household, while the same mechanism may be employed to give a signal from some other point such as the back door at which may be located another push button switch indicated in Figure 1 at 6I. The circuit of the latter, however, extends from one side of the source 54, conductor 55 to winding terminal 56, winding 20a, terminal 51, conductor 62 to one'side of the switch 6I and by way of conductor 63 from the other side of switch 6I back to the source 54. In that circuit, the make and break mechanism above-described will be seen to be excluded.

Accordingly, energization of winding 2!)EL by closure of switch 6I causes the core structure to be impacted toward the left against chime bar I3, the core structure and spring and the electromagnetic characteristics of the solenoid being so proportioned that continued energization of winding 288L during the interval that the switch 6I remains closed does not hold the core structure suiiciently to the left to maintain engagement with the chime bar I3 so that damping of the action of the latter does not take place; when the button switch 6I is released, the winding is deenergized andthe stored energy in spring 25 impacts the other striker 24 against the other sounding element I4. Thus a single complete actuation of switch 6I causes the mechanism to sound only a single sequence of the two notes so that the source of the signal such as the back door is thus readily distinguished from the other.

The apparatus lends itself moreover to the production of additional and other distinguishing signals if desired. Thus for example I may provide, as shown in Figure 1, adjustable resistance device 35 mounted on the back plate I 0 and having connections whereby it may be placed in a circuit such as the following one: from one side of the source 54, conductor 55, winding 20a, conductor 66, resistance device 65, conductor 61, push button switch (i8, and by conductor 69 back to the other side of the source 54.

The resistance device 65 may then be set, upon installation, to a value such that, for the voltage of the source 54, closure of the switch 68 energizes the solenoid winding 2l)a to a lesser extent than it is energized in the circuits of the switches 6| and 53, an extent sullicient to cause the core structure 2l]b to be moved to the left so that striker 23 hits the sounding element I3 a blow strong enough to set it in vibration, but weak enough so that there is little or no material rebound, whence, upon opening of switch 68, spring 25 moves the core structure to the right but because of the substantial absence of rebound, the stroke toward the right has insuflicient energy for the striker 24 to reach and impact the sounding element I4, and in this connection the spring lever 2'I of the bellcrank lever 21-42 can act to absorb this lesser amount of energy toward the end of the stroke and take part in preventing the striker 24 from sounding the other element I4. Thus in the circuit of switch 68a still different signal, namely, a single impact of the chime member I3 and the single sounding of its note, may be achieved.

By the use of another resistance element 1I, also conveniently mounted on the back plate III, another and still different signal may be achieved.V Resistance device 'II may be included in a circuit as follows: from one side of the source 54, conductor 55, winding 20a, conductor 58, auxiliary frame 3|, and hence contact lever 2'1 and contact 28, companion contact 29, insulated contact support 30, conductor 12, resistance device lI, conductor 13, push button switch "I4, and by conductor'15, back to the other side of the source 54. Y

Resisting device II maybe set substantially the same as device is set as above described so that the energization of solenoid winding 20a, upon closure of switch 14, is again less and just suicient to strike the one sounding element I3 with insufficient rebound to effect striking of the other sounding element I4, as was described above in connection with the circuit of resistance device 65. But in the circuit of resistance device II are included the contacts 28-29 and the delayed action mechanism for actuating them, and hence, upon closure of the circuit at the switch 'I4,` the chime element I3 is struck repeatedly, in slow repetition, throughout the vinterval of time that switch 'I4 is held closed, and here the frequencyof repetition of the element I3 can be made less than was its frequency when the circuit of switch 53 is closed for producing the cyclic repetitionV of a sequence of two notes. Accordingly, the single note of chime bar I3, slowly repeated, can constitute a fourth signal.

The apparatus will be seen to be of simple and compact construction and capable of reliable action and long continued use. It will also be seen to be capable of a wide range of distinguishing signal production and thus, as a single instrument, may be made to meet a wide variety of conditions or requirements met with in practice; for example, two of the signals may be used to identify front door and back door signal stations, a third may be employed as a dinner gong, and the fourth may be employed as a servants call. It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a musical chime signal which the various objects hereinabove set forth together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A musical signaling apparatus comprising two musical sounding elements capable of emitting distinguishing musical tones and having means mounting them for sound-emitting vibration and in spaced relation, a solenoid having winding means and a reciprocable core with a striker for each sounding element, means mounting said solenoid so that reciprocation of said core is effective to cause one striker to strike one element on one stroke and the other striker to strike the other sounding element on the opposite stroke, spring means biasing said core away from one sounding element and toward the other whereby energization of said winding means causes the solenoid to move the core against the action of said spring to strike one sounding element whereupon the energy stored in the spring effects reverse movement of the core to cause the other sounding element to be struck, and a plurality of circuits for energizing said winding means, said circuits comprising a circuit for energizing said solenoid with suicient strength to cause striking of one sounding element followed by striking of the other element by the energy stored in said spring, another circuit for energizing the solenoid to give it suflicient strength to cause one sounding element to be struck while storing insuiicient energy in the spring so that the latter does not effect striking of the other element, another circuit including a circuit interrupter actuated by said core for successively energizing the solenoid at a strength to effect striking of both sounding elements in sequence repeatedly under the control of the interrupter for as long as the circuit remains energized, whereby the two tones are emitted in repeated succession, and another circuit including an interrupter actuated by said core for energizing the solenoid each time as permitted by the interrupter with sufficient strength to cause the striking of only one sounding element whereby the one note is sounded repeatedly for as long as said circuit remains energized, there being means for delaying circuit-closing actuation of the interrupter by said core.

2. A signaling apparatus comprising two sounding elements having means mounting them in spaced relation, a solenoid and reciprocable core therefor having lstriker means on each end and having means mounting it so that the core is reciprocable in a path to cause one striker to strike one sounding element on one stroke and to cause the other striker to strike the other sounding element on reverse stroke, spaced stop means carried by said core, a pivoted arm extending into the space between said spaced stop means whereby said arm is actuatable about its pivot by said core with a lost motion due to the spacing between said stop means, means biasing said core toward one sounding element and thereby, through one of said stop means, engaging and biasing said arm, an interrupter comprising a contact carried by said arm and a relatively fixed contact positioned so that said bias of said arm presses the arm Contact thereagainst to maintain circuit closure, the winding of said solenoid being connected in circuit with said contacts, and double acting spring means operatively related to said arm to bias the latter and its contact in circuit-closing position to initiate striking movement of the core toward one sounding element and hold the arm in circuit-closing position to maintain circuit closure during the interval of time of core stroke required for the other stop means to engage said arm and move it and its contact away from said xed contact to interrupt energization of the solenoid so that said biasing means can initiate reverse stroke of movement of the core, said spring means acting thereafter to bias said arm and hold it away from said xed contact during that portion and retrograde stroke of the core under the action of said core-biasing means that is required for the rst stop means to engage and move said arm into circuit-closing position.

3. A signaling apparatus comprising two sounding elements having means mounting them in spaced relation, a solenoid and reciprocable core therefor having striker means on each end 10 and having means mounting it so that the core is reciprocable in a path to cause one striker to strike one sounding element on one stroke and to cause the other striker to strike the other sounding element on reverse stroke, spaced stop means carried by said core, a pivoted arm extending into the space between said spaced stop means whereby said arm is actuatable about its pivot by said core with a lost motion due to the spacing between said stop means, means biasing said core toward one sounding element and thereby, through one of said stop means, engaging and biasing said arm, an interrupter comprising a contact carried by said arm and a relatively xed contact positioned so that said bias of said arm presses the arm contact thereagainst to maintain circuit closure, the winding of said solenoid being connected in circuit with said contacts whereby its energization to effect movement to stroke one of said sounding elements may be initiated during maintenance of circuit closure by said contacts and its energization interrupted when one of said stop means overtakes said arm to interrupt the circuit at said contact, and double acting spring actuated cam means operating upon said arm to bias it either toward or away from said xed contact according to the direction in which said arm is moved by said two spaced stop meansl and hold it in the position it is moved by one of said stop means on one stroke of the core and until moved into its other position by the other stop means upon reverse movement of the core, and thereby also interpose, in coaction with said spaced stop means, time delays for thereby lncreasing the time spacing between successive impacts of said sounding elements.

4. A musical signaling apparatus comprising two musical sounding elements having means mounting them in spaced relation, a solenoid and reciprocable core therefor having striker means on each end and having means mounting it so that the core is reciprocable in a path to cause one striker to strike one sounding element on one stroke and to cause the other striker to strike the other sounding element on reverse stroke, spaced stop means carried by said core, a pivoted arm extending into the space between said spaced stop means whereby said arm is actuatable about its pivot by said core with a lost motion due to the spacing between said stop means, means biasing said core toward one sounding element and thereby, through one of said stop means, engaging and biasing said arm, an interrupter comprising a contact carried by said arm and a relatively xed contact positioned so that said bias of said arm presses the arm contact thereagainst to maintain circuit closure, the winding of said solenoid being connected in circuit with said contacts, said arrn being yieldable to an extent Suflicient to permit striking `of one of the sounding elements upon de-energization of the winding and when the core is moving in one stroke under the action of said biasing means therefor, and a plurality of circuits for controlling energization of said solenoid winding, one of which includes said winding and said two contacts whereby said two tones of said sounding elements are emitted in repeated succession for as long as the circuit remains closed, and another circuit comprising said winding without said two contacts whereby one sounding element emits its note upon energization of the winding and the yieldability of said arm permits the other sounding element to emit its tone upon return s'troke of the core under the action of its biasing means.

5. A` vsignaling apparatus comprising two sounding elements having means mounting them in spaced relation, a solenoid and reciprocable core therefor having striker means on each end and having means mounting it so that the core is reciprocable in a path to cause one striker to strike one sounding element on one stroke and to cause the other striker to strike the other sounding element on reverse stroke, spaced stop means carried by said core, a pivoted arm extending into the space between said spaced stop means whereby said arm is actuatable about its pivot by said core with a lost motion due to the spacing between said stop means, means biasing said core toward one sounding element and thereby, through one of said stop means, engaging and biasing said arm, an interrupter comprising a contact carried by said arm and a relatively xed contact positioned so that said bias of said arm presses the arm contact thereagainst to maintain circuit closure, the winding of said solenoid being connected in circuit with said contacts whereby its energization to effect movement to stroke one of said sounding elements may be initiated during maintenance of circuit closure by said contacts and its energization interrupted when one of said stop means :overtakes said arm to interrupt the circuit at said contact, and means co-acting with a portion of the arm that swings about the arm pivot to bias the arm with its contact either toward or away from said xed contact according to the direction of swing of said part as determined by movement communicated to the arm by said spaced stop means and hold it in the position it is moved :by one of said stop means on one stroke of the core and until moved into its other position by the other stop means upon reverse movement of the core, andV thereby also interpose, in coaction with said spaced stop means,l time delays for thereby increasing the time spacing between successive impacts of said sounding elements.

6. A signaling apparatus comprising two sounding elements, a solenoid having a reciprocable core, striker means actuated by said core to strike one sounding element upon one stroke of the core and to strike the other sounding element upon the other stroke .of the core, means biasing said core in one direction and thereby hold it in position to be moved in opposite direction upon energization of the solenoid winding, a relatively xed contact, a member carrying a coacting contact and means mounting said member for movement toward and away from said xed contact, means forming a reversible lost motion connection between said core and said member whereby said member is actuated in circuitbreaking direction only after a substantial portion :of the core stroke to effect striking of one of said sounding elements has taken place upon energization of the solenoid winding through said contacts, and mechanism operating upon said member to bias and hold it in contactengaging position during the action of said lost motion connection in the course of the energizing stroke of said core and for yieldably biasing said member away from contact-engaging position during the action ,of said lost motion connection on the reverse stroke of said core that effects striking of the other sounding element to thereby delay circuit-closing contact engagement until toward the latter part of said reverse stroke.

7. A signaling apparatus having a sounding element, a solenoid having a reciprocable core with striker means for striking saidsounding element, ar relatively iixed contact, a member' carrying a coacting contact and means mounting said member for movement toward or away from.

said fixed contact, means forming a reversible lost motion connection between said core and said member whereby said member is actuated in circuit-breaking direction only after a substantial portion of the core stroke has taken place upon the energization of the solenoid winding through said contacts, and mechanism ,operating upon said member to bias and hold it in contactengaging position during the action of said lost motion connection in the course of the energizing stroke ,of said core and-for yieldably biasing said member away from contact-engaging position during the action of said lost motion connection on the reverse stroke of said core to thereby delay circuit-closing contact engagement until toward the latter part of said reverse stroke.

8. A signaling apparatus having a sounding element, -a solenoid winding having a reciprocable core with striker means for striking said sounding element, a relatively fixed contact, a bell-crank lever, means forming a reversible lost motion connection between said core and arm of said bellcrank lever, a contact movable with said bellcrank lever into and out of engagement with said xed contact, said contacts being in circuit with said winding, and spring means coacting with the ,other arm of said bell-crank lever and having operative connections therewith to bias the lever in the direction in which it is actuated by said lost motion connection means.

9. A musical signalling apparatus comprising two spaced musical sounding elements of diierent tone, a solenoid havingv/inding means and a recipro'cable core with strikers at the ends thereof and mounted between said sounding elements so that one striker strikes one element on one stroke of the core and the other striker strikes the ,other sounding element on the reverse stroke, spring means biasing said core away from one sounding element and toward the other whereby energization of said winding means eiects movement of the core against the action of the spring to effect striking of one sounding element whereby the energy stored in the spring thereafter effects reverse stroke of the core to eiiect striking of the other sounding element, a fixed contact, a member carrying a coacting contact and having means mounting it for movement toward or away from said xed contact, means forming a revers-` ible lost-motion connection between said core and said member whereby said member is actuated in circuit-breaking direction only after a substantial portion of the core stroke to effect striking of one sounding element has taken placegi'n Vresponse to, Venergization of the winding means, mechanism operating upon said member vto bias and hold it in contact-engaging position during the action of said lost-motion connection in the course of said last-mentioned core stroke and for yieldably biasingA said member away from contact-engaging position during the action of the lost-motion connection on the reverse stroke of said core under the action of said spring means to thereby delay circuit-closing contact-engagement until toward the latter part of said reverse stroke and thereby interpose time delay to the initiation of a succeeding cycle of strokes of thecore, and a plurality of circuits for energizing said winding `means comprising a circuit excluding said contacts for energizing the solenoid with suiiicient strength to cause striking of one sounding elementiollowed by striking ofthe other element by the energy stored in said spring means, another circuit excluding said contacts for energizing the solenoid with sufficient strength to cause striking of one sounding element while storing in sufficient energy in the spring means so that the latter does not eiect striking of the other element, another circuit including said contacts for energizing said solenoid with sufcient strength to effect striking of both sounding elements in sequence and to effect slow repetition of the sequence under the control of said member and the reversible lost-motion connection thereof with the core, whereby the two tones are emitted in repeated succession, and another circuit including said contacts for energizing the solenoid each time as permitted by the engagement of said contacts with suiiicient energy to cause the striking of only one sounding element whereby the one note thereof is sounded repeatedly in slow succession for as long as said circuit remains energized.

10. A signalling apparatus comprising sounding means adapted to be set into sound-emitting vibration when struck, a solenoid having a reciprocable core with striker means for striking said sounding means, a relatively fixed contact, an elongated member carrying a coacting contact and having means mounting it to pivot toward or away from said Xed contact, said contact controlling energization of said solenoid, means forming a reversibly-acting lost-motion connection between said core and said member to actuate the latter from the core and pivot it in contact-breaking direction on one stroke and in contact-making direction upon the reverse stroke of the core but only after a substantial portion of the core stroke has taken place, means biasing said core for reverse stroke of movement to succeed the stroke of movement effected by energization of the solenoid, and means yieldably acting upon said pivoted member to releasably hold it into whatever position it is pivoted through said lost-motion connection but only during the time interval of each core stroke that is required to take up the lost motion of said reversible lost-motion connection, thereby to delay circuit-closing contact-engagement and effect relatively slow repetition of striking of said sounding means by said striker means.

11. A signalling apparatus as claimed in claim in which said releasably-holding means comprises a part coacting with said pivoted member and partaking of the pivotal movement of the latter, and spring means bearing against said part to resist pivotal movement thereof and hence of said part.

12. A signalling apparatus comprising a sounding element, a solenoid and reciprocable core therefor having a striker on one of its ends and reciprocable in a path to cause said striker to strike said sounding element, a pair of electric make-and-break contacts, an actuating element therefor, a lost-motion coupling between said core and said actuating element to move said actuating element into contact-closing position responsive to travel of said core toward said sounding element and into contact-opening position responsive to travel of said core away from said sounding element, a double-acting indexing element to hold said contacts in closed or open position as set by said actuating element, a spring biasing said core toward said sounding element to a rest position in which said contacts are closed and said striker is adjacent to, but out of contact with said sounding element, said contact being connected in series with the winding of said solenoid, the magnetic pull of said solenoid on energization thereof opposing said spring to draw said core away from said rest position and from said sounding elementJ said lost-motion coupling being effective to open said contacts after a predetermined travel of said core away from said rest position, said actuating element being resilient to permit the inertia of said core to carry said striker beyond said rest position to strike said sounding element upon deenergization of said solenoid.

13. A signalling apparatus comprising two sounding elements having a support mounting them in spaced relation, a solenoid and reciprocable core therefor having a striker on each end and reciprocable in a path to cause one striker to strike the first sounding element on one stroke and to cause the other striker to strike the second sounding element on the reverse stroke, a pair of electric make-and-break contacts, an actuating element therefor, a lost-motion coupling between said core and said actuating element to move said actuating element into contact-closing position responsive to travel of said core toward said second sounding element and into contact-opening position responsive to travel of said core toward said first sounding element, a double-acting indexing element to hold said contacts in closed or open position as set by said actuating element, a spring biasing said core toward said second sounding element to a rest position in which said contacts are closed and said other striker is adjacent to, -but out of contact with said second sounding element, said contacts being connected in series with the winding of said solenoid, the magnetic pull of said solenoid on energization thereof opposing said spring to draw said core away from said rest position to strike said rst sounding element, said lost-motion coupling being effective to open said contacts after a predetermined travel of said core toward said first sounding element, said actuating element being resilient to permit the inertia of said core to carry said striker beyond said rest position to strike said second sounding element upon deenergization of said solenoid.

14. A signalling apparatus comprising a sounding element, a solenoid and reciprocable core therefor having a striker on one of its ends and reciprocable in a path to cause said striker to strike said sounding element, spaced stop elements carried by said core, a pivoted arm extending into the space between said spaced stop elements whereby said arm is actuable about its pivot by said core with a lost-motion due to the spacing between said stop elements, a spring biasing said core toward said sounding element and thereby, through a first of said stop elements, engaging and biasing said arm to a rst position, a pair of make-and-break contacts actuated by said arm to a circuit-closing position in response to movement of said arm to said nrst position, an energizing circuit for said solenoid, said contact pair being connected in series with said circuit, said solenoid being so positioned in relation to said core as to draw said core away from said sounding element and bias said arm to a second position responsive to energization of said solenoid, said contacts being actuated by said arm to an open-circuit position to permit said core to return in response to movement of said arm from said first to said second position, said rst stop element biasing said arm and thereby said contacts to a circuit-closing position during return 15 of said 'arm 'toward said sounding 'elementsprior to striking of said sounding element by said striker, the inertia of saidcore exceeding the'pull of said'solenoid for a period of time after circuit closure sucient to carry said striker into engagement with said sounding element.

FRANK V. SLAKER.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of recordin the le of this patent:

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